Home Lending Revamp Planned: Federal regulators plan to unveil a major overhaul of an under-used mortgage-refinance program designed to help millions of Americans whose home values have tumbled.

Regulators Take Over Mortgage Insurer: Arizona regulators have taken over PMI Group and put restrictions on its claims payments, the latest indication that the housing bust is not finished taking casualties.

Designers in Their Element: Fall colors, with their burnished radiance, are increasingly being replicated indoors as contemporary designers turn to copper as their material of choice, exploring the metal’s poetic and practical qualities. Read More »

The Outlook: U.S. Gambles with Mortgage Retreat: Three years after virtually nationalizing the U.S. mortgage market, the government now is trying to see if private industry picks up the slack, a move that some people in the housing industry worry will cause fresh pain in many regions.

Rate Drop Hits Some Mortgage Investors: The refinancing boomlet is roiling parts of the $5 trillion market for mortgage-backed securities, where investors had bought bonds in anticipation that activity would remain low.

China Housing Prices Inch Lower: China’s housing prices recorded a modest decline for the first time this year, indicating the government’s campaign to cool the housing market had achieved some success.

Canadians Warm to Phoenix: Phoenix and other warm-weather cities that have seen real-estate values crater are newly popular among Canadians looking for second homes or investment properties, brokers and buyers say.

Fannie, Freddie Probe Focuses on Disclosure: The SEC investigation into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is homing in on the extent to which the mortgage-finance giants adequately disclosed their exposure to subprime loans.